Russia and our election

[Dill]

(07-18-2017, 01:16 PM)TheLeonardLeap Wrote: Honestly, if Hillary won, would anyone even being talking about this? It's not Russia's fault that she neglected a couple states, thinking she was guaranteed them. It's not Russia's fault that she used the DNC to install herself as the candidate over Sanders. It's not Russia's fault Hillary actively alienated voters by calling them deplorables, while trotting out absurdly rich celebrity after absurdly rich celebrity talking about how they'll move to Canada if she loses. She was supposed to be the professional candidate, but she got sucked into attacking Trump more than presenting plans and stances on issues.

Choose a better candidate, run a better campaign. Obama had just gotten 332 electoral votes (26 more than Trump) just 4 years earlier.

Now am I saying Russia is innocent? No. But don't pretend Russia is the one who made Hillary lose. She did a pretty darn good job of that herself. The hissy fit of losing after being so assured of victory is what has sown chaos in the government.

If we are talking about Russia because of suspected collusion between the Trump campaign and Putin, then no, we would not be talking about this if Hillary won.

We would still be talking about the interference with the US election, however. Hillary would be taking strong steps to protect the US. Russia might have been in for a counter-cyber attack.  She would not be working to return their property or proposing a joint task force to work with the Russians, letting right inside our policy and programs and institutions.

The Trump strategy was largely to suppress the Hillary vote. I doubt she alienated many potential voters by calling half the Trump supporters "deplorables."  She was the "professional candidate" as she proved in the debates.  But Republican voters did not want professional. 

Even if all the things you accuse Hillary of were true, what really hurt her were two issues--the private email server and wikileaks. Could be a hack of the Trump campaign would have levelled the playing field, but that was not Putin's intent.

As far a running a "better candidate"--I hear that often on news programs. Hillary was "flawed" we are told, despite being well prepared for the most important office in the land.

But if professional and prepared do not seal the deal, while vulgar and ignorant carry the day, then it is hard to imagine what that better candidate would look like.